Transgender Inclusion at Cornell

Cornell University is committed to creating a safe and respectful campus for all members of our community including those of all gender identities and expression. We are pleased to provide the Cornell University Transgender Guide to Transitioning & Gender Affirmation in the Workplace, which provides guidance on updating personal information in university systems, offering on/off campus resources, as well as suggested steps for working with your supervisor and colleagues. The following information provides a glimpse into some of the information provided in the guide. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Cornell F. Woodson in the Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at cfw58@cornell.edu or (607) 255-5740.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Cornell University’s official non-discrimination policy includes the protection of "sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression."

Understanding Gender Inclusive Pronouns

Trans Terminology Guide

On-Campus Gender Friendly Restrooms

In keeping with the University’s policy of nondiscrimination and the commitment to inclusion, the University allows students, staff, faculty, and visitors to use the restroom or facility that corresponds to their gender identity*. In addition, the University maintains a number of universal restrooms across campus to address restroom facility access not necessarily related to gender identity, such as access for parents with children and for other attendants/caregivers. These facilities are all-gender, accessible spaces, which may include amenities for families such as baby changing stations.

*Gender identity refers to an individual’s internal sense of gender. A person’s gender identity may be different from or the same as the person’s sex assigned at birth.

On-Campus Health Services

Transgender Health Insurance Plans

To learn more about your benefits, please make an appointment with someone in the HR Services & Transition Center. They are located in the East Hill Office Building, Suite 130 (395 Pine Tree Road). You can also contact them via phone at (607) 255 – 3936 or via email at benefits@cornell.edu.

Off-Campus Resources

Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes

Located in downtown Ithaca ( 620 W Seneca St, Ithaca, NY 14850 ), Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes has hormone therapy and preventive health services for transgender people. This is not a campus service, but a service provided in the local community. There is a fee for this service but if finances are a concern these can be discussed before one's first appointment. A person may become a new patient if they are seeking transgender related health care for the first time — or, if they are already being seen by a medical provider in their home community or their previous town that is providing transgender related health services to them, they may transfer their care and their records to this office so that they have a local provider here. You can reach them at (607) 273-1513 to request an appointment or request additional information.

The Planned Parenthood website also includes an awesome new booklet that has information on every process for changing your name and information as a transgender person!

Voice and Communication Modification Program

One of the only programs like it in the country, the Voice and Communication Modification Program at Ithaca College focuses on developing voice, articulation, non-verbal communication, language, voice-related quality of life, and self-perception. It's open to both male to female and female to male transgender people. Community members have to pay a nominal fee and must sign up in advance to be a part of this group.

Transgender Support Group

Cornell's LGBT Center, Ithaca College's LGBT Center, and Out for Health jointly support a transgender support group for people in the Ithaca area. You can find more information here or by contacting Cornell's LGBT Center at lgbtrc@cornell.edu.

The LGBT Center at Ithaca College also partnered with Out for Health, Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes LGBT Health & Wellness initiative, to create an awesome new booklet that has information on every process for changing your name and gender marker on important identity documents. To learn more about the policies and procedures, please visit Know-How Booklet and Forms.